The 41st Millennium…
In a dimly lit chamber, a Librarian Eques Astartes with lavender fur, purple eyes, and dark blue mane and tail sat at a table. This pony was clad in dark blue Space Marine power armor, equipped with a metal hood that rose from the back and over her head. She had a lavender horn and a pair of lavender wings. She was Twilight Sparkle, a Librarian for the Celestial Guard Space Marine Chapter.
Space Marine Librarians were unicorns who had advanced magic abilities. Most unicorns in the Equestrian Imperium knew only a few spells, including telekinesis. However, for unicorns who showed greater magical talent, if they ever became Space Marines, they would be trained to become Librarians. Twilight Sparkle was one such example.
When she had been discovered to have magic abilities far exceeding those of average unicorns, the Celestial Guard chapter had assigned her to serve under the codiciers in the Librarius. As a lexicanum, Twilight had trained to control her magical abilities and she had studied every sacred tome in the Librarius. The Librarians had even been amazed by how well Twilight Sparkle had organized all the texts in the Librarius. Soon, Twilight had been promoted to a codicier herself.
Twilight had rarely seen combat, but that doesn’t mean she wasn’t trained to fight. Her older brother, Shining Armor, had trained Twilight how to handle a boltgun, wield a sword, and fight in hoof-to-hoof combat. But Twilight’s weapon of choice had always been her magic. Besides levitation, Twilight could shoot lightning, fire, or lasers from her horn, teleport from one place to another, and create force fields to protect others. However, her magic abilities were not the only thing the Chapter had noticed.
During her decade-long transformation from an ordinary pony to an Eques Astartes, Twilight Sparkle had grown wings. She still had no idea why, and neither did the rest of the Chapter. The Chapter’s apothecaries had theorized that it was a genetic flaw in the gene-seed. Others have speculated that it had been due to Twilight’s magical talent. Fewer still, those who were more religious like the Chaplains, had proposed that Twilight’s wings had been a miracle from the Empress.
Twilight had heard these theories and had pondered them. At the end of the day, however, she did not care how she had grown wings. All she wanted to know was why. There were very few alicorns in the galaxy. The last time there were a number of alicorns had been during the Great Crusade. Empress Celestia had granted nineteen ponies she had deemed worthy the transformation into an alicorn, and thus the title of Prime Pony.
But Twilight was not a Prime Pony. She was just a codicier, a Librarian of a Space Marine Chapter. She could understand being made an alicorn if she were the Chief Librarian or even the Chapter Master. But she was neither.
Twilight took a moment to unfold one of her wings and examine it. Sure enough, it was real. She could feel the cold metal of her armored hoof run along the lavender feathers. She sighed heavily with a great desire to understand. She had always been a pursuer of knowledge; as the Blood Phoenixes Chapter would say, “Knowledge is power, guard it well.” But there were no other tomes in the Librarius that Twilight could find to answer the reason behind her wings.
After a moment of examining her wings for the thousandth time, Twilight returned to her studies. She read about the final hours of the Lunar Heresy. As she used her magic to turn the page, she revealed a picture of Empress Celestia confronting Nightmare Moon.
On the right side of the picture, the Empress was portrayed in Her bulky golden armor, wearing a golden laurel crown and igniting Her fiery sword. On the left side was Nightmare Moon standing over the broken body of Sanguinevere, the Prime Pony of the Blood Alicorns. This picture depicted the beginning of the final battle of the Lunar Heresy, the duel that would determine the fate of the Equestrian Imperium.
Twilight had lost count of how many times she had seen this picture. It made her feel sad that it had come to this. To think that nine Prime Ponies and their Space Marine Legions could turn against the Empress and nearly destroy everything that many had worked, fought, and even died for…
It was unthinkable.
It was almost… heretical.
Twilight decided to take her mind off of the image by closing the tome and placing it back on one of the many shelves in the Librarius. Then, she returned to her own workbench, where a small cyborg baby dragon was sitting. It was currently turned off at the moment. Throughout most of its body, it had lavender scales, a light green underbelly, and bigger green scales that ran along the back of its head. It also had an arrow-pointed tail. However, the left side of its face had exposed machinery. It looked as if it had been damaged.
Twilight took a few tools and started to fix the machinery. While she was not a Techpriest Pony, she had studied mechanics from time to time. The Librarian alicorn would need it if she were to maintain her “number one assistant.”
After spending five minutes delicately fixing the machinery, Twilight put the tools away and levitated a curved silver plate off of her desk. The plate resembled that of a baby dragon’s face and it had a hole in it where an eye would be. Twilight smiled as she placed the plating onto the baby dragon, clicking it into place.
Almost instantly, the cyborg opened its organic and artificial eyes.
“Good morning, Spike,” Twilight said happily.
The baby dragon stood up on its, or his legs, and stretched his arms out while yawning. Could machines even get tired enough to yawn?
“Good morning, Twilight,” Spike replied in a clear voice. It was not synthesized like others would expect it to be, with Spike being a machine and all. “How long was I asleep for this time?”
“You were off for about four days,” Twilight answered, somewhat sheepishly.
“Four?!” Spike’s organic eye widened in surprise. Then the little baby dragon glared up at the alicorn Librarian and shouted, “What were you doing all this time?!”
The baby dragon received a harsh “shhh!” from Twilight.
“We’re in the Librarius, remember?” Twilight whispered while scolding. But then her tone changed to an apologetic one. “And I’m sorry. I got too caught up in my studies again.”
Spike rolled his eye and crossed his arms. “You’re always caught up in your studies, Twilight. When’s the Chapter gonna let you see some action?”
Twilight snickered. “If I were taken off-world, you’d be off longer.”
“Well then, take me with you!” Spike retorted, raising his voice again, and receiving another “shhh!” from Twilight.
“Okay, okay, I’m sorry!” Twilight quietly said. “I won’t forget again, I promise.”
“I’ll hold you to that, Twilight,” Spike said before opening up his own draconic wings and hovering off the desk. “So, what’s on the agenda for today?”
“I don’t know yet,” Twilight answered. “I was told to just wait here and that it was very important.”
Spike opened his mouth to ask why when they suddenly heard a loud clicking sound. Then there was the sound of the Librarius’s doors sliding open. Twilight and Spike went over to the source of the noise, which was then replaced with the heavy metallic trotting of armored hooves. Twilight and Spike approached the source. It was a Space Marine clad in bulky Terminator armor, painted purpled and trimmed in gold. But this Eques Astartes did not wear a helmet, and Twilight could immediately tell the identity of this stallion by the white fur and dark blue mane.
“Sh-Shining Armor!” Twilight called out, before immediately covering her mouth upon remembering that they were still in the Librarius! “What are you… doing here?” she then whispered.
Shining Armor, the newly-appointed Chapter Master of the Celestial Guard, stood tall over his biological sister. “It’s good to see you too, Twily.” Shining Armor said as he smiled warmly. Then his facial expression turned to a more serious expression. “I need you to come with me.”
“Why?” Twilight asked in response.
Shining Armor sighed before saying, “I cannot tell you yet. I’m under strict orders to bring you with me.”
Twilight groaned. “Fine… May Spike come with us?”
Shining Armor looked at the baby dragon cyborg. He was ordered to bring only Twilight, but he didn’t see the harm in bringing Spike along.
“Oh, alright. You can come with us, Spike.”
“Yes!” Spike said as he pumped his fists, before once again receiving a “Shhh!” from every Librarian in the Librarius. Even the Chief Librarian, who was pretty peeved at this point!
Twilight shook her head disapprovingly at Spike, who looked apologetically at her. Then, Twilight and Spike followed Shining Armor out of the Librarius.
“You said you were under strict orders to take me somewhere. Who gave you those orders, Shining Armor?” Twilight asked in slight suspicion.
“Let’s just say that their authority is far higher than mine,” Shining Armor answered.
Twilight raised an eyebrow in response. “Are you sure you’re not dodging the question?”
“You know, you’d make a good Inquisitor if you weren’t already a Space Marine,” Shining Armor said, definitely dodging questions.
Twilight in return deadpanned at her older brother. “By ‘Inquisitor,’ do you mean putting ‘heresy’ labels on practically everything and blowing up planets with only one heretic among billions of innocent civilians? Because if you do, I resent that, BBBFF.”
Shining Armor laughed. “No, LSBFF. I mean by finding answers, solving puzzles and mysteries, and seeking the truth.”
Twilight smiled at that. “Okay. I guess I can take it as a compliment. So, can I guess who’s asking for me?”
“You’re welcome to try,” Shining Armor smirked as he looked challengingly at his little sister.
---
The surface of Eques Terra was a metropolis. Millions upon billions of ponies walked through the streets of Hive Cities, living peacefully. There was laughter, joy, and happiness on the planet. There were patrols of Equestrian Guardsponies in dark green uniforms, marching through the streets. Civilians would watch them and applaud them for their service to the Equestrian Imperium and the Goddess-Empress of Ponykind.
There were even a few squadrons of Space Marines trotting along city walls. They were clad in the yellow, red-trimmed armor of the Imperial Hooves Chapter. They were ever vigilant, watching the cities from below, and keeping an eye for any potential threats.
In the sky, a golden Thunderhawk flew over the urban surface. Onboard the transport was Shining Armor, Twilight Sparkle, Spike, and a few other Astartes of the Celestial Guard. They wore gold and white armor with a blue horseshoe, the Chapter’s symbol, on their left pauldrons. The Astartes sat in their seats, having to endure the Librarian’s endless guessing game.
“So, is it the Ecclesiarchy?” Twilight asked Shining Armor. The Chapter Master and the Librarian were closer to the cockpit, where they look outside to see where they were going.
“No,” Shining Armor chuckled. “It’s not the Ecclesiarchy.”
“Then… is it the Council of Eques Terra?” Twilight guessed.
“Nope! It’s not them either.”
Spike was riding on Twilight’s back, and he too was just as annoyed as the other Space Marines were. “By the Throne, Shining Armor, why can’t you just tell her?!”
Shining Armor smirked at the baby dragon cyborg. Then, the Chapter Master looked out the windshield of the Thunderhawk and then back towards Twilight.
“How about I just give you a little hint,” Shining Armor proposed before raising a foreleg forward. Twilight looked and beheld the most majestic place on Eques Terra. Her eyes widened in surprise as she saw the golden spires of the Royal Palace.
The Royal Palace was as large as a small city, and it reached all the way up into the sky. It was well-structured, well-fortified, and aesthetically pleasing. Twilight immediately recognized it as the home of the Empress.
The Thunderhawk landed in one of the many hanger bays of the higher levels. After the large door ramp at the front of the transport opened up, Twilight Sparkle, Spike, and Shining Armor exited.
“Alright. Follow me, sis,” Shining Armor instructed, and Twilight immediately followed, with Spike riding on the backpack of her Power Armor.
The hallways of the Royal Palace were golden with white marble columns and velvet carpets. Twilight’s mouth remained open as she looked all around. Throughout their walk through the palace, Twilight and Spike saw many different decorations and memorials.
There were paintings depicting Celestia Herself in Her golden power armor. Some paintings illustrated Her leading Eques Astartes into battle against alien forces. In those paintings, Celestia wielded her flaming sword, commanding all who followed her into battle. Some paintings illustrated Celestia meeting with ponies in other establishments across the galaxy. In those paintings, Celestia was shown to be kind and compassionate. There was even a tall painting depicting Celestia with a grey unicorn dressed in a dark blue robe and hat, the latter of which had bells hanging from it.
Twilight immediately recognized that Unicorn as Starswirl the Bearded. He had been a highly skilled wizard, a master of magic and sorcery. He had been Celestia’s right forehoof, carrying out Her will. Starswirl had even served as Celestia’s advisor. Twilight respected, no, admired Starswirl the Bearded. She had claimed to have read all the tomes Starswirl had written. If there was a book Starswirl had written that Twilight had yet to read, she would scour the galaxy for it so that she could read it.
Shining Armor smirked as he shook his head; he knew his sister all too well, and yet he hadn’t anticipated her stopping at the portrait of Starswirl and the Empress.
“Okay, Twily, come on,” Shining Armor said as he used his magic to pull Twilight away from the painting. Not wanting to scrape the marble floor by dragging Twilight in her power armor, Shining Armor made sure to lift her off the floor first. Then, Shining Armor gently set Twilight down next to him and continued to lead her through the palace.
Twilight pouted like a little filly. “You could have given me another minute…”
“Sorry, Twilight, but there’s more to see. So, come on,” Shining Armor said as he led Twilight and Spike into the next room.
The two Space Marines and the cyborg baby dragon walked into a large rotunda. On the dome ceiling was the painting of the Empress galloping through the galaxy. Along the walls of the rotunda were twenty niches. They had been meant for twenty statues, however, only nine niches had statues of armored alicorns in them.
Nine statues for nine Prime Ponies.
The ones who had remained loyal to the Empress.
Twilight walked along the statues.
First, she came across the statue of Pony El’ Johnson, the Lion-hearted and the Prime Pony of the First Legion, the Dark Alicorns. After she skipped the second niche, Twilight walked in front of the third niche, which held the statue of Gleaming Sentinel, the Prime Pony of the Third Legion, the Celestial Guard. Next to Gleaming’s statue stood the statue of Princess Platinum, the Prime Pony of the Fourth Legion, the Platinum Hooves.
After two more empty niches, Twilight came across the statue of the Angel, Sanguinevere. Sanguinevere had led the Seventh Legion, the Blood Alicorns. According to all of the tomes Twilight had read, Sanguinevere had been one of the kindest and most loving Prime Ponies in existence. Some tomes have even stated that Sanguinevere was the heart of the Equestrian Imperium. To this day, the Blood Alicorns still pray to her, and some even claim that they can still see her, even after her sacrifice during the final days of the Great Heresy.
Next was Queen Amore, ruler of the Crystal Empire and Prime Pony of its own legion of Eques Astartes, the Crystal Guard. Amore had been one of the first ponies outside of the Equestrian Imperium to be made a Prime Pony. The Empress had been more than willing to welcome the Crystal Empire into the Equestrian Imperium as an ally. Amore had accepted the offer happily. Unfortunately, Amore had met a tragic ending during the earlier days of the Heresy. She had been betrayed and killed by King Sombra himself, who had also been chosen by the Empress to be a Prime Pony.
Twilight then looked up at the next statue to her right. This statue was that of Commander Hurricane, the Prime Pony of the Ninth Legion, the Thunderbolts. Some have stated that Hurricane had been the Empress’s most loyal Prime Pony, to the point where he had been called the Empress’ executioner. After skipping another empty niche, Twilight looked up at the statue of Reargal Dorn, the Pratorean of Eques Terra.
Reargal Dorn had been the Prime Pony of Eleventh Astartes Legion, the Imperial Hooves. According to Twilight’s research, Dorn had been an expert in architecture and fortifications. Dorn had built the Royal Palace, and when it had been known of Luna’s betrayal, he had fortified it. When Nightmare Moon had come to Eques Terra, Dorn and his legion had held the walls of the Palace in what was now called the Siege of Eques Terra.
After two more empty niches, Twilight stood in front of the statue of Roboute Guillihorse, the Prime Pony of the Fourteenth Legion, the Ultramares. Guillihorse had been a brilliant tactician and very well disciplined and organized. It was said that Guillihorse and his Ultramares had achieved the most victories in the Great Crusade. After the Lunar Heresy, Roboute Guillihorse had written the tome that Twilight and many other Space Marines abided by unquestionably, The Codex Eques Astartes. Guillihorse had believed that the Space Marine legions had to be broken down into Chapters, where only 1000 Space Marines were allowed. This had been so that no single pony could have as much power as Nightmare Moon had during the Heresy.
Twilight passed four more empty niches before coming to the second to last niche. This one held the statue of Corvus Coltrax, the Prime Pony of the Nineteenth Legion, the Dark Phoenixes. Corvus Coltrax had always preferred stealth and attacking from the shadows, as well as liberating ponies who could not defend themselves. It was said that Coltrax had even used a whip; perhaps he had enjoyed the irony of using a slave master’s weapon on those who would have enslaved Ponykind.
After one more empty niche, Twilight Sparkle was back where she had started. She noticed Shining Armor walking over to the statue of Gleaming Sentinel. Once he looked up the statue of his Prime Pony, Shining Armor dutifully and respectfully bowed his head and knelt before the statue.
Like all Space Marines to their respective Prime Ponies, Shining Armor respected and honored Gleaming Sentinel. He had always strived to be like her; valiant, loyal, and persevering. Gleaming Sentinel was a role model to Shining Armor, even if she had died many millenia ago.
Twilight Sparkle walked over to Shining Armor’s side. Knowing that Gleaming Sentinel was her Prime Pony too, Twilight bowed and knelt before the statue as well. Twilight didn’t mean to, but she spread her wings out as she bowed, and the feathers of one of her wings accidentally brushed against Shining Armor’s terminator armor. This caused him to flinch and look up to see Twilight by his side. Then he looked to see his little sister’s lavender wings.
“Oh, it was just you,” Shining Armor said sheepishly, a little embarrassed that a Space Marine Chapter Master was started by his little sister.
“Hmm?” Twilight said as she raised her head back up. Once she noticed that her wings were spread out, it all made sense now. Her ears dropped in embarrassment. “Hehe… sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it, Twily,” Shining Armor reassured her. “Now come on. We need to keep going.”
Shining Armor, Twilight Sparkle, and Spike left the rotunda and continued down the hallway. They eventually came to an elevator booth, to which they barely managed to enter. Astartes were larger than the average pony after all, considering that they were genetically-modified super soldiers. Thankfully, two Space Marines in an elevator didn’t exceed the elevator’s weight capacity. After Shining Armor pressed a button, the elevator doors closed, and down they went.
Shining Armor looked at Twilight before sighing to himself.
“You okay, BBBFF?” Twilight asked Shining Armor with concern. Even without her advanced magic abilities, it was obvious to Twilight that something was up with Shining Armor.
Shining Armor sighed. “Remember when you got your gene-seed implanted into you, Twilight?”
Twilight looked away from Shining Armor, remembering the aforementioned moment all too well.
The Eques Astartes recruited adolescent fillies and colts between the ages of ten to twelve. Said fillies and colts would be hoof-selected by a Chaplain. When she had been a unicorn filly at the age of ten, Twilight Sparkle had been one of the selected recruits.
Like every recruit, Twilight had been taken to Apothecarion in the Celestial Guard’s fortress-monastery. There, Twilight had been strapped down onto a table and had been cut open by a Space Marine Apothecary. Then, the gene-seed had been implanted into Twilight’s body. Twilight remembered having been awake to witness it all.
“I felt like I shouldn’t have been awake for that,” Twilight muttered. “It was terrifying.”
Twilight looked back up at Shining Armor and was surprised to see a solemn, sad look on his muzzle.
“You weren’t the only one,” Shining Armor said sadly.
Twilight was puzzled by this. A Space Marine was supposed to know no fear. In fact, for over ten millennia, Space Marines have claimed that they were fear incarnate. It was considered a weakness to feel even slightly timid or show the slightest hint of fear. Shining Armor had been the Captain of the 2nd Company back when Twilight had received her gene-seed. And now, as a Chapter Master, here he was saying that he was terrified?
“The last time I saw you… before you were recruited… was when you were a foal,” Shining Armor said softly. “And when I saw you again as a filly, I was both happy to see you again, but also confused as to what you were doing there. Then the Apothecary told me that it was your turn.”
--
“What do you mean ‘it’s her turn’?” Shining Armor asked nervously, hoping against all hope that his sister was not here for what he thought she was here for. He hoped that Twilight was just being given a tour of the fortress, or maybe she had just snuck in to see the Librarium. Or maybe their parents had just brought her here to visit him.
By the Throne, Shining Armor hoped that one of those three was the answer. But, some say that hope is the first step on the road to disappointment. And the Space Marine Apothecary in his white power armor brought Shining Armor to that destination with his answer.
“She is a neophyte, Captain Armor. She is here for her gene-seed implant.”
Shining Armor’s eyes widened in surprise and horror. He looked down at the lavender unicorn filly. He had immediately recognized her the moment he had laid eyes upon her. And he had been so happy to see a six-pointed magenta starburst cutie mark on her flank.
Shining Armor looked back up at the Apothecary and glared directly into the eye lenses of his helmet.
“Don’t… Don’t do this,” Shining Armor said while slowly shaking his head.
“I am sorry, Brother-Captain,” the Apothecary said sincerely, as if he knew what was going on through Shining Armor’s mind at the moment. “This must be done.”
“Then find somepony else!” Shining Armor snapped, finally losing his composure. “Anypony else! Not her!”
The Apothecary flinched at Shining Armor’s sudden outburst. He was glad that he was wearing his helmet because he didn’t want to show a sign of intimidation that Shining Armor was looking for.
Two more Space Marines came by after having heard Shining Armor’s outburst, one an earth pony mare and the other a unicorn stallion. They stood on either side of their battle brother, ready to restrain him if they needed to do so.
“I understand that she is your sister, Brother-Captain,” the Apothecary said softly in an attempt to calm Shining Armor down. “But she has already been chosen, and the procedures are already underway. I am truly sorry, Captain Armor. You must have faith in the Empress.”
--
“I do remember you calling out to me,” Twilight said softly. “You sounded pretty scared.”
“I was,” Shining Armor admitted. “I didn’t know if you would have survived.”
Twilight’s ears drooped at her brother’s response. She was aware that very few ponies survived the implantation of the gene-seed, and fewer survived the decade-long transformation from a regular pony into an Astartes. The transformation involved growing 19 new organs inside a pony, including a second heart. The transformation also grew a pony in size and strength, surpassing that of an average stallion.
Every day during Twilight’s transformation, Shining Armor had hoped that Twilight would survive. He had even taken the Apothecary’s advice to have faith in the Empress. Every day and night, Shining Armor had prayed to Her. When Twilight’s transformation had been complete, Shining Armor had cried tears of joy, thanking the Empress for having protected his sister.
“I think the Empress truly blessed you, LSBFF,” Shining Armor said softly, a smile finally returning to his muzzle. It made Twilight happy to see her big brother, best friend forever smile. Still, she looked away from him and smiled sheepishly.
“I don’t know if I would say that I was blessed, BBBFF,” Twilight said skeptically. “Maybe I was just lucky.”
“Then how else would you explain those?” Shining Armor pointed to Twilight’s wings. In response, Twilight unfolded one of them and once again examined it. Was Shining Armor right? Were her wings really a gift from the Empress?
“Why are you bringing this up?” Twilight said as she folded her wing and looked back up at Shining Armor.
Shining Armor sighed. “Because I’m nervous for you again, Twilight. I’m… I am worried about what’s going to happen now.”
“Why? What are you talking about? Y-you haven’t even told me where we’re going!”
Suddenly, the elevator stopped. The doors opened and revealed their destination.
And Twilight Sparkle gasped as she beheld two thick and tall golden doors. The doors were engraved with the image of the Empress in all Her glory. Twilight immediately recognized it as the doorway to the Throne Room.
Shining Armor stepped out of the elevator and walked towards the doorway, where two Space Marines stood with their boltguns ready. The Astartes saluted their Chapter Master, who saluted back. Then the Chapter Master looked back at the Librarian, was still frozen in the elevator.
Shining Armor smirked as he used his magic to pull Twilight out of the elevator.
“The Empress will see you now, Twily.”
“The… the… the… the Empress?!!!” Twilight Sparkle stammered.
Shining Armor couldn’t help but snicker. He then noticed Spike who was still riding on Twilight’s back. The baby dragon cyborg rolled his eyes.
“Relax, Twilight, everything’s gonna be fine,” Spike said reassuringly. “Just take a deep breath.”
Twilight did as her number one assistant suggested. “You’re right, Spike. I need to look presentable, and I need to stay calm… when meeting… the Master… of… Ponykind…!”
Then Twilight started to hyperventilate. Shining Armor rolled his eyes before putting his forehooves on the pauldrons of Twilight’s power armor, which got her attention. Shining Armor then had Twilight take deep breaths to calm her down. Then, after about a minute or two, Twilight was calm once more.
“As Spike said, everything’s gonna be fine,” Shining Armor said reassuringly.
“Thanks, Shining Armor,” Twilight said before looking at Spike. “And thank you, Spike.” Spike smiled in response before giving Twilight a thumbs-up and hopping down to Shining Armor’s side.
Then, Twilight took one last deep breath before standing before the doorway. The Astartes aside as the large doors slowly opened. Then, Twilight Sparkle walked into the Throne Room.
--
The Throne Room was huge. It was nearly the size of an entire cathedral. It was dimly lit by candles hanging from the walls. Twilight Sparkle walked through the Throne Room, observing the ancient gothic architecture of the walls and the columns. It was like walking into an ancient chapel. Then, after a minute of walking, Twilight Sparkle stopped before a gigantic staircase that led all the way up to Her.
Twilight Sparkle stared in amazement as she beheld Celestia, the Goddess-Empress of Ponykind.
The Empress sat on her hind legs and seemed to stare blankly up and outwards. Her eyes glowed as brightly as the sun. Her armor had been removed a long time ago. Now all she was left with was her white fur coat. Her once-ethereal, majestic mane and tail no longer flowed as if they were in the wind. They had been cut very short.
Cables and wires were surgically plugged into the Empress’s back, where her wings had once been. Nightmare Moon had taken those away from her.
After Empress Celestia had banished Nightmare Moon, Reargal Dorn had walked in upon seeing his Empress dying. With Her dying breath, Celestia had instructed Dorn to take Her body back to the Royal Palace, and onto the Golden Throne. On that day, Celestia, the pony had died. And She had been reborn as a goddess.
Empress Celestia was plugged into a giant machine that was called the Golden Throne. After having dubbed Luna as Warmaster, Celestia had returned to Eques Terra to secretly work on one final gift for Ponykind. It had been a webway gate, which would enable ponies in space to travel safely through a parallel dimension called the Warp. The Warp was a dangerous dimension that was filled with pure magic. It was said that unicorns with advanced magic skills got their power from the Warp.
Ponies had found that space travel was faster by traveling through the Warp. However, the Warp had, and still held, many demons. All the more reason for Celestia to have worked on this Webway project. However, it had all been ruined by another Prime Pony.
Maverick the Red.
Maverick the Red had been skilled in magic and sorcery. He had encouraged his Space Marine Legion, the Thousand Colts, to embrace their magical abilities. However, that had been taken away from them when Celestia had previously decreed at the Council of Neighkaea that all Legions were to stop using advanced magic. Maverick had been furious by this, so much so that he had returned home to his home planet, Prospero.
While he had been in meditation, Maverick had sensed Warmaster Luna being corrupted by dark forces. He had even reached out with his magic to prevent Luna’s corruption, but he had arrived too late. Luna had turned into Nightmare Moon and had turned her back on her Sister. Maverick had believed that he could still warn Celestia.
Maverick, with the help of his most skilled sorcerers, had used his magic to reach Eques Terra via astral projection. On his way, he had to break through a magical barrier that had been blocking his way. Maverick had used his magical abilities, with the aid of a mysterious being from the Warp, to break through the barrier and continue onward to Eques Terra.
Maverick the Red had had no idea what he had just done. As he had arrived in the Royal Palace, however, he had soon found out.
The barrier that Maverick had had destroyed had been part of the Webway project Celestia had been working on. By having had destroyed the barrier, Maverick had unleashed demons into the material world. Maverick the Red had beheld demons swarming the palace like locusts. And they had come out of the Webway gate that Celestia had built. Needless to say, Celestia had been beyond furious with Maverick.
Celestia had to remain on the Golden Throne to keep any more demons from entering the material realm, and it had taken all the magical strength She could have mustered. The only time she had ever gotten up from the throne was during the final days of the Lunar Heresy. Before then, She had called upon Starswirl the Bearded to take her place. Without question, Starswirl had done so, having cost him his life. When Reargal Dorn had brought Celestia back to the Golden Throne, Starswirl had perished and had offered up the last of his life to Celestia.
Since then, Celestia has remained on the Golden Throne for nearly ten thousand years, protecting Her subjects as they traveled through the Warp and keeping demons at bay.
Twilight Sparkle did take another step forward. She dutifully bowed before her Empress.
There was a brief moment of silence before Twilight heard an echoing, yet soft, kind voice.
“Rise, Twilight Sparkle.”
Twilight looked up at the Empress. She did not move, which meant that she could not open her mouth. However, Twilight knew that the Empress had the power to communicate with one other pony via telepathy.
Twilight’s mouth remained open, utterly speechless at what to do. Should she rise?
Of course, she should; it was a command from the Empress!
Twilight stood up. It took a while for her to say anything. When she finally worked up the courage to speak, Twilight Sparkle said, “Y-you… You summoned me… Empress?”
“Indeed, I did, Twilight,” Celestia telepathically said.
“M-My Empress… why?”
“Because I need you.”
Twilight froze once more. The Empress of Ponykind needed her? Twilight Sparkle could not believe what she was hearing. She was a skilled Librarian for sure, but to be asked by the Master of Ponykind Herself to help Her was incomprehensible!
Before Twilight could ask anything, Empress Celestia answered in advance:
“As you may know, Twilight Sparkle, years ago I banished Nightmare Moon with the Elements of Harmony. In one month, it will the ten-thousandth anniversary of the Equestrian Imperium’s victory. However, I believe that is when Nightmare Moon will return.”
Twilight gasped in response. “H-How is that possible? Nightmare Moon away sealed away!”
“Yes, Twilight, she was,” Empress Celestia responded. “However, the banishment was not meant to be permanent. I knew that one day Nightmare Moon would return. And when she does return, we must be ready.”
Twilight Sparkle dutifully stood up straight and spread out her wings. “What do you need me to do, my Empress?” Twilight asked, just like a soldier. “I can take the Second Company and face her in battle. I can--”
“Twilight,” Celestia said, “this isn’t a matter that can be solved with an army of Space Marines. Listen to me very carefully, my faithful subject.”
“Y-yes, Empress Celestia,” Twilight said as she bowed. Then she lent her ears.
“The key to stopping Nightmare Moon once and for all is not with an army of Space Marines, but rather… six special Space Marines. I am asking you to find them.”
“M-Me?” Twilight asked. “W-why me? H-how will I find them?”
“You will use these.” The Empress’s horn glowed bright yellow, and in a burst of light, a royal blue chest with golden trims appeared in front of Twilight.
Twilight inspected the chest before opening it up. What she saw made her jaw nearly drop to the floor. Inside the chest, resting on a small velvet pillow, were six gems; a red gem, an orange gem, a blue gem, a purple gem, a pink gem, and a magenta gem. Five of the gems were hexagon-shaped gems, but the magenta gem in the upper-middle was shaped in a six-pointed star.
Twilight immediately recognized these gems. They were ancient relics from a long time ago, before the Great Crusade.
“Are these…” Twilight asked, completely in awe. “Are these… the Elements of Harmony?!”
“Yes, Twilight Sparkle,” the Empress answered simply. “They will guide you across the galaxy to their new bearers. Once you have found the five new bearers, Twilight, you will bring them back to Eques Terra’s Moon. There, you will face Nightmare Moon.”
Twilight was confused. Did She say ‘five’? But, there were six Elements here. Why did she only need to gather five?
Then, it suddenly hit her like a Thunderhammer. The fact that she was an alicorn, and that one of the Elements looked exactly like her cutie mark.
“Em…Empress,” Twilight stuttered. “Am I…?”
“Yes, Twilight Sparkle. You are one of the six Ponies to face Nightmare Moon.”
The starburst stone became enveloped in golden magical aura and levitated out of the box. It floated in front of Twilight’s muzzle before flying up over her head. Then, there was a burst of blinding light that originated from the Element, causing Twilight to close shield her eyes. When she opened her eyes, Twilight saw that her Power Armor had changed.
In place of the dark blue of the Librarians, Twilight’s Power Armor recolored in a dark shade of lavender, with her pauldrons trimmed in purple. She looked to her left pauldron and saw that her cutie mark was painted onto it. On the right pauldron she could see a golden Horned Skull of the Librarius. At the bottom of the pauldron sat a ribbon that read “EQUES TERRA”.
Twilight then noticed mounted onto her armor’s gorget, along with her Magic Hood, was an golden Iron Halo. But that couldn’t be right. Iron Halos were reserved for the highest honored Space Marines, including captains, Chapter Masters, and Veterans. Why did she have an Iron Halo?
Twilight’s answer came to her when she noticed the Element of Magic mounted ontop of the Iron Halo. She felt a strong surge of magic coming from the Element, as if her magical abilities increased tenfold! She then noticed that noticed an Eques Astartes helmet next to the box containing the other elements. The helmet was the same color as her power armor. There was a vertical pattern from above the purple eyelenses that stretched back down to the bottom. The pattern resembled her mane and tail; dark blue with magenta and purple lines on the right side.
Twilight Sparkle looked up back up at the Empress.
“You are the first bearer, my little pony. You will now wield the Element of Magic.”
Twilight was speechless. There were plenty of things she wanted so say. So many questions she had for the Goddess-Empress of Ponykind. But on that mountain of questions, one stood at the top. One question she had asked herself for over thirteen years.
“Is there anything else you wish to say, Twilight Sparkle?”
Twilight remained silent for a brief moment. This could be her chance. Maybe she could finally find out why she was made an alicorn? Had the Empress truly intended for her to become a Prime Pony, and if so, why?
But Twilight came to the conclusion that she was not entitled to ask that question. If the Empress had made Twilight an alicorn, than it was Her will.
“No, my Empress,” Twilight answered. “There is nothing more for me to say.”
“Then go, Twilight Sparkle. Search the galaxy for these five ponies. And be careful, Twilight. The Equestrian Imperium is not as peaceful as it is here on the Throne World.”
Twilight Sparkle bowed before the Empress. Her will would be done.
---
Three days later…
“I still think that this is overkill, Shining Armor,” Twilight Sparkle deadpanned.
Twilight Sparkle, Spike, and Shining Armor had returned to the Celestial Guard Fortress-Monastery after Twilight’s meeting with the Empress. After Twilight Sparkle had revealed to Spike and Shining Armor her task from the Empress, as well as the sudden change in her armor color, Shining Armor had decided to take matters into his own hooves. He had known that he couldn’t stop Twilight from going on this mission. After all, it had been ordered by the Empress Herself! So Shining Armor did the next best thing.
After three days of preparation, Shining Armor had gathered three companies of the Celestial Guard Space Marines. Each company had 100 Battle Ponies. Shining Armor had made sure that Twilight would be escorted by 300 Eques Astartes!
To Twilight, it was, indeed, overkill.
“And I still disagree with that, Twilight,” Shining Armor retorted.
Shining Armor, Twilight Sparkle, and Spike watched as 300 Eques Astartes marched through the hanger area and into Thunderhawk transports. The Companies were all organized into ten-pony squadrons, ten squadrons per company. Each company also had a captain, two lieutenants, a company ancient, an apothecary, and either a chaplain or librarian.
Shining Armor had always been protective of Twilight; perhaps a little over-protective. He knew that she was not a filly, but he also knew that she had yet to see any combat. In fact, she had never been to any other planet in the galaxy yet. Shining Armor knew that as a Chapter Master he had to remain on Eques Terra. However, he would make sure that Twilight, and Spike, did not leave unprotected.
“Okay, I will admit that maybe one company would be fine,” Twilight said. “But three, Shining?!”
“You haven’t seen the galaxy like I have, Twilight,” Shining Armor said cautiously. “It’s dangerous out there.”
“As the Empress too said, Shining,” Twilight said. “But Spike and I will be fine. We’ll get the other Element Bearers, and then we’ll come back home, defeat Nightmare Moon…” Twilight trailed off at the last part about Nightmare Moon. She still couldn’t believe that she and five other ponies would have to face her. Could she really do it? She had read that Nightmare Moon had single-hoofedly defeated one-thousand Space Marines during the Lunar Heresy. What chance would a mere six have?!
“Uh, Twilight?” Spike asked with concern. Twilight’s face was frozen and read the expression of internal panic. Spike flew up to Twilight’s ear. Then, the cyborg baby dragon grabbed one of the mare’s ears and shouted, “EQUES TERRA TO TWILIGHT!!!” into it.
Twilight jumped and yelped in surprise. Shining Armor smirked at seeing that Spike’s plan had worked. Twilight Sparkle rubbed her ear before glaring up at Spike, who also smirked in triumph.
“Never. Do that. Again!” Twilight growled at Spike, who retained his smirk.
A Space Marine stallion with orange fur and wings, a dark blue mane, and blue eyes marched towards the trio. He was decorated in Purity Seals for his feats in previous battles. Mounted ontop of his backpack was an Iron Halo, showing his rank as a captain in the Chapter.
The stallion held his helmet in one foreleg, which had a cobalt silhouette of an alicorn on the forehead. The stallion approached Shining Armor and knelt before him.
“Chapter Master Shining Armor,” the captain said dutifully.
“It’s alright, Flash Sentry,” Shining Armor said casually. “You may rise.”
“Thank you, Chapter Master,” Flash Sentry said as he rose up. “I am letting you know that we are about ready to depart.”
“Good,” Shining Armor said as he nodded before turning to Twilight. “Twily, you will be riding with Captain Flash Sentry. Their transport is the third Thunderhawk on the second row.”
Twilight nodded in understanding. “Thank you, Shining Armor, and thank you, Captain.”
“Just doing my duty, Librarian Twilight,” Flash Sentry said as he saluted with one of his wings.
Twilight took the moment to embrace Shining Armor before leaving.
“I promise I’ll come back, BBBFF.”
Shining Armor wrapped one foreleg around his sister to return the embrace.
“I’m gonna hold you to that, LSBFF,” Shining Armor said.
After a moment of their sibling embrace, Twilight let go of Shining Armor and walked to her transport, with Spike flying alongside her.
Shining Armor watched Twilight and Spike walk to their assigned Thunderhawk before looking at Flash Sentry once more.
“Captain Flash Sentry,” Shining Armor said in a less casual and more authoritative voice. “I cannot stress enough how important it is that you bring her back alive and well. And that’s an order.”
Flash Sentry bowed respectfully and dutifully. “I understand, Chapter Master. My Battle Brothers and Sisters will make Sister Librarian Twilight’s safety our top priority.”
“Good,” Shining Armor said. “She may be your battle sister, but she’s my biological sister.”
“You have my word, Chapter Master,” Flash Sentry said before placing his helmet back on. When he spoke again, his voice sounded more synthesized by the helmet. “She will be protected.”
Shining Armor nodded. “Then go. And may the Empress protect you.”
Captain Flash Sentry bowed once more before marching to his assigned Thunderhawk. Moments later, and Shining Armor could hear the roaring of engines, as one by one, the ten Thunderhawks took off into the sky, each carrying 30 Space Marines. Shining Armor watched as the Thunderhawks flew up past Eques Terra’s atmosphere and into the stars.
The ten Thunderhawks soared into space. Soon they came to a Battle Barge, which was a massive warship used by the Eques Astartes to travel from world to world. Battle Barges could carry up to three companies of Space Marines as well as all of their vehicles and equipment. These massive warships had been used since the days of the Great Crusade. They had not only been used for space travel, but also for planetary assaults. The Thunderhawks landed in the hanger of the Battle Barge simply named The Chariot.
About an hour later, Twilight Sparkle and Spike entered the bridge of The Chariot, looking out into the stars. She saw countless stars in the vast ocean of space. Twilight looked to her left and saw the planet of Eques Terra below. She also saw the moon-sized space station that had been built by Reargal Dorn himself, The Phalanx. The space station was the home to the Imperial Hooves Chapter, as well as the orbital defender of Eques Terra. The Phalanx floated in space ever-watchful and ever-vigilant for any signs of trouble.
On her right, Twilight Sparkle saw the Moon. She saw the sphere like she would every night, but she had never seen it this close before. She also saw the Mare in the Moon. A chill ran down Twilight Sparkle’s spine, because she knew that the moon was a prison. For one inmate; who, according to the Empress, was about to escape. Twilight Sparkle also knew that she did not have too much time.
They had one month.
They had one month to gather five Astartes and come back to fight the Arch Traitor. The one who had turned her back on the Empress. The one who had split the galaxy in half. The one who had started a civil war that nearly swallowed the Equestrian Imperium whole!
Twilight took a deep breath and looked straight out into the stars. Then, she walked over to an observation table and set down the box that held the Elements of Harmony. She remembered what the Empress had said about letting the Elements guide her, and so that’s what she did.
Twilight Sparkle used her magic to lift the red Element out of the box. She felt strange holding the Element in her magic, like she was connected to it. Twilight Sparkle closed her eyes and focused on the Element.
A moment later, Twilight opened her eyes, which now glowed in pure white light. The Element of Magic also shined so brightly that everypony on the bridge had to shield their eyes. In Twilight’s mind, she saw images of a planet covered in clouds, of Space Marines that were all Pegasi and clad in blue armor, and a winged lightning bolt.
Once the visions faded, Twilight felt disoriented. And she felt like Shining Armor had just sat on her head. The Librarian shook her head and looked towards Flash Sentry.
“Captain Sentry,” Twilight Sparkle said authoritatively, “tell the crew to set a course for Clouderis.”
“Yes, Sister-Librarian.” Flash Sentry bowed before walking over to the captain of the ship and his navigational crew.
Soon, The Chariot started to move and accelerate. The Battle Barge then came to a rift. It was a Warp Rift. This would take the Battle Barge into the Warp. As The Chariot got closer to the rift, it started to pick more speed than before. Then, it traveled at nearly the speed of light. And in almost an instance, it was gone.